La Beliza Resort

After a 45-minute golf-cart ride on a bumpy, pothole-ridden road, La Beliza’s quiet atmosphere feels like a worthwhile reward. Far from the noise and chaos in San Pedro, it’s possible to hear the ebb and flow of the ocean and the rustle of wind through the palms. But stick around long enough, and the peaceful out-of-town location starts to reveal its flaws. The middle-of-nowhere location proves inconvenient for travelers who want to explore the island, and the long trek to town isn’t ideal for those who plan on dining at local restaurants. The northern reaches of the island are also the most affected by the area’s ongoing seaweed problem. For some reason, seaweed tends to build up here in greater quantities than points farther south. The unpleasant, sulfurous smell of stagnant seaweed pervades the La Beliza property, and may be unbearable for some. 

Many of La Beliza’s rooms are timeshare units, so the hotel sees a regular crowd of repeat guests. If there are lots of timeshare guests on-site, the property develops a warm, community-minded atmosphere, fostered by longtime guests who know the area, and the resort, quite well. The majority of La Beliza guests are middle-age couples, though the hotel also sees a handful of families with young children.  

Located eight miles north of San Pedro town, La Beliza feels worlds away from the tiny city’s chaotic streets and frenetic atmosphere. The tradeoff for La Beliza’s tranquility is its remote location. There isn’t anything of interest within walking distance, and there aren’t any restaurants or grocery stores this far north on the island. La Beliza guests who plan on visiting the town of San Pedro frequently will have to contend with the long eight mile potholed road that leads to the resort. On a golf cart, that means at least 45-minutes in both directions. At night, the road is completely dark, which can be another turnoff for travelers. San Pedro has several water taxi services that make stops in front of La Beliza’s dock, but the schedule can be unreliable.  

San Pedro is the largest town on Ambergris Caye, Belize’s largest island. Ambergris Caye is best known for its proximity to the Belize Barrier Reef, which is a mere 20-minute boat ride from the island. The Belize Barrier Reef is part of the larger Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, which extends from eastern Mexico to Honduras -- making it the second largest reef system in the world after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Needless to say, travelers visit Ambergris Caye to experience its rich marine life and exceptional dive sites, such as Hol Chan and the Blue Hole. Ambergris Caye is an ideal destination for divers and avid snorkelers, and is an excellent place for those seeking scuba certification. It’s not an ideal destination for travelers in search of beautiful beaches (check out Placencia or Hopkins instead). Nearly all of Ambergris Caye’s beaches, including the one at La Beliza, are manmade, and the beaches in San Pedro town are used as a thoroughfare for golf cart traffic. 

Like many parts of the Caribbean, Ambergris Caye is currently dealing with a massive seaweed problem. Due to rising ocean temperatures, large amounts of seagrass accumulate along the shoreline and wash up on the beach. The piles of dried seagrass are unsightly and foul smelling, and the problem seems particularly bad on the northern end of the island. The stagnant seaweed prevents a lot of people from swimming directly off shore, and the sulfurous smell may aggravate some travelers more than others. This is a natural phenomenon, and there isn’t much hotels can do to get rid of the seaweed, but it’s something travelers should anticipate when visiting Ambergris Caye. 

La Beliza’s one and two bedroom units feature full kitchens and separate living spaces and are equipped with useful amenities for extended stays. Decor varies a bit between rooms, but it generally leans toward a Mediterranean look, with dark wood moldings and travertine floors. Whimsical caribbean accents like palm-frond ceiling fans and inlaid bamboo furniture add a sense of place, and large outdoor balconies allow guests to take advantage of Belize’s tropical climate. Rooms aren’t necessarily modern, or even luxurious, but by San Pedro standards they’re palatial. Stainless steel appliances, soaking tubs, and flat-screen TVs aren’t typical commodities across the island, but they’re found in every room at La Beliza. Plus, rooms are spacious, ranging from 1,100 to 1,500 square feet. All of the hotel’s units offer sweeping ocean views, but only a few are truly oceanfront. If an oceanfront room is on your "must-have" list, specify this when booking.  

La Beliza has a few nice features, but in our opinion, not enough to entice guests to stay this far away from San Pedro town. While the property does have a nice pool, a large beach, and an on-site restaurant, it can't give much variety in the day's activities with nothing to visit nearby.

The combined pool and beach area are La Beliza’s main attractions. The freeform pool is located in the center of the property and leads directly to the hotel’s large sandy beach. In fact, the entire pool is surrounded by sand, so it blends seamlessly with its surroundings. Several infinity edges drop off into smaller wading pools, so guests can feel like they’re swimming in the ocean without stepping foot in the sea. Unfortunately, mounds of washed-up seaweed prevent most people from swimming in the ocean. The blankets of sea grass give the ocean a muddy brown hue and cast off an unpleasant sulfurous aroma. Like many hotels in the area, La Beliza has a long dock that extends past the seaweed, so guests can use the dock to access clean swimming areas. Cushioned lounge chairs are scattered across the sandy beach and pool area, and hammocks are strung between shady palms. The only problem with this sandy space is that it’s a magnet for bugs, especially during the humid summer months. 

The hotel’s on-site restaurant is located outside on a small patio adjacent to the pool. A few wicker tables surround a thatched-roof bar, where colorful lanterns add some ambiance. Upon arrival, staff members escort guests to the bar for a free welcome drink -- some kind of tropical concoction made with or without alcohol. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food is decent, and the menu features lots of local seafood. Don’t miss the coconut pancakes at breakfast time -- the golden, buttery stacks are piled high with freshly shaved coconut from one of the surrounding palm trees. 

Wi-Fi is free for all guests and works well across the property.